2017 Asia-Pacific Zone Championships: Mustang-9 & Mustang

Mustang-9 Recap:

For the third-consecutive year, Philippines won the Mustang-9 Asia-Pacific Zone Championship. This year, the team went unscathed through its five-game schedule and outscored its opponents 87-4. The Philippines receive the Zone's automatic qualifying bid to the Mustang-9 World Series in Walnut, California, July 27-30.Scores:

In what were two, highly-competitive, close games, Indonesia won when it mattered most and upset the five-time defending Zone Champion Philippines in the championship game, after losing 14-13 during pool play. In its first appearance at the Zone Championships, India also recorded its first win in a 12-7 victory over host Singapore. Indonesia has received the Zone's automatic qualifying bid to the Mustang World Series in Youngsville, Louisiana, August 3-6.Scores:

Check out the amazing photos from the tournament below, and PONY thanks all of those who were involved in hosting the event.

Gallery

2017 Asia-Pacific Zone Championships: Bronco & Pony

PONY Baseball and the Asia-Pacific Zone have announced that Saitama, Japan and Seoul, Korea will represent the Zone in the Bronco and Pony World Series, respectively, after the Asia-Pacific Zone Bronco and Pony Championships were rained out due to Tropical Cyclone Nanmadol, which hit Japan during the tournaments.

After completing one, full day of pool play on July 3, play was suspended on July 4 because of rain, as the tropical cyclone made landfall. Pool play resumed on July 5 and the tournament completed nearly all of the day’s games before more rain washed out the late afternoon games.

Additional rain, which caused play to be suspended, continued on July 6. This is when PONY Asia-Pacific Zone officials and the teams’ coaches determined that there would not be enough time to continue pool play. The Host Tournament Directors and respective country delegates agreed upon the following four teams, in both age categories, continuing on in the semifinal rounds, since they were the four leaders of their respective pools when play was suspended: Chinese Taipei, two teams from Japan and Korea.

PONY officials and the teams hoped to play out the semifinal and final rounds of the tournaments on July 7 in time for the teams to return on their predetermined flights back home, but unfortunately, rain, which caused the fields to become unplayable, did not allow those games to be played. It was then determined by the Asia-Pacific Zone officials that Saitama, Japan will represent the Zone in the Bronco World Series and Seoul, Korea will represent the Zone in the Pony World Series.

“We want to thank our Asia-Pacific Zone member countries for their patience, perseverance and determination during the unfortunate events of Tropical Cyclone Nanmadol,” stated Abraham Key, President and CEO of PONY Baseball and Softball. “The tropical storm created a unique set of circumstances, rescheduling and eventual championship determination. The situation was beyond the control of our tournament host Fukuoka, Japan and the tournament directors. Our thanks to all involved.”

Saitama will begin its journey toward Japan’s potential first Bronco World Series championship Thursday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. PST/U.S. against the South Zone Champion in Los Alamitos, California. Representing the Asia-Pacific Zone for the first time since 1997, Seoul, South Korea will face the winner of Game #1 between Mexico Zone Champion, Guasave, Sinaloa and the Caribbean Zone Champion in Game #5 at 5:30 p.m. ET/U.S. on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Washington, Pennsylvania. You can follow all the action from both of those tournaments on PONY.org and PONY’s social media.

2017 Asia-Pacific Zone Championships: Colt

Korea's A and B teams continued to dominate, after four and a half days of play at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Zone Colt Championships in Seoul, Korea. Both teams garnered undefeated records heading into the championship game, after advancing past Japan and China, respectively, in the semifinal rounds. Korea A used a seven-run bottom of the third inning to build a sizeable lead that it never relinquished against Japan in the first game of the day to win 9-2. Korea B's offense exploded for 17 hits in the day's second game, as the Koreans also took advantage of six Chinese errors to win comfortably 13-6.

In the championship game, Korea A attacked offensively early, scoring five runs without allowing a run through three innings. Though Korea B scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, it was not enough to overcome the deficit and Korea A won 6-4.

Now garnering the Asia-Pacific Zone Colt Championships title, Korea A receives the Zone's automatic qualifying bid to the Colt World Series, Aug. 4-9, in Lafayette, Indiana. It will be the second-consecutive year in which Korea will represent the Zone at the Colt World Series. Last year, the team won two games against Central Michigan (16-13) and Greensboro, North Carolina (13-6), respectively, before falling in the quarterfinals to Lafayette, Indiana (10-3). Korea A will participate in its first game at the Colt World Series Friday, Aug. 4 at 1:30 p.m. ET/US against the East Zone Champion, who will be determined Sunday, July 30 in Greensboro, North Carolina at the East Zone Colt Championships.

Make sure to follow Korea's journey at the Colt World Series on PONY.org and PONY's social media.